Democrats ramp up call for Justice Alito’s recusal from Trump cases
A chorus of Democratic lawmakers ramped up their calls for a recusal of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito on January 6th-related cases after it was revealed that he flew yet another flag that had been brandished by Capitol rioters at his New Jersey summer home.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), speaking on behalf of the Court Reform Now Task Force, posted a letter penned to Alito pleading for him to recuse himself from Trump absolute immunity case.
"A New York Times report revealed that on and around January 17, 2021, between the January 6 insurrection and the inauguration of President Biden, an inverted United States flag was photographed flying from the front lawn of your personal residence,” wrote the Task Force.
The New York Times broke the story of both flags waving at Alito's Washington home and now his New Jersey one.
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Sen. Dick Durbin (D–IL) who chairs the Judiciary Committee also piled on the recusal alarm sounding.
He posted a photo of the "Appeal to Heaven" flag hoisted at the Long Beach Island pulled from The Times scoop.
Durbin pointed out that the second flag revelation is further proof of "apparent ethical misconduct by a sitting justice, and it adds to the Court’s ongoing ethical crisis."
“This incident is yet another example of apparent ethical misconduct by a sitting justice, and it adds to the Court’s ongoing ethical crisis,” reads a thread posted on Twitter/X. "Justice Alito must recuse himself immediately from cases related to the 2020 election and the January 6th insurrection.
"It's for the good of our country and the Court. And the Chief Justice must see how this is damaging the Court and immediately enact an enforceable code of conduct."
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D–CT) also chimed in during an appearance on MSNBC’s "All In with Chris Hayes" criticizing Alito’s flag hoisting.
“Supreme Court justices are supposed to be above reproach and above politics, and I am sad, really sad and shocked to say Justice Alito is rapidly showing himself to be unfit to serve on the United States Supreme Court,” he said.
The flag itself dates back to the early Revolutionary War era and was used as a battle flag that featured the phrase, “An Appeal to Heaven,” from John Locke’s opposition to a king's divine right to rule.
The flag was also spotted outside the doorway of House Speaker Mike Johnson's office.
"It’s George Washington’s flag," Alito told CNN. "I've always flown that flag."
Alito denied that his decision to fly it had any relation to the Jan. 6 "Stop The Steal" protest.